The body that represents rank-and-file police officers warned the relaxed lockdown guidance still risks being a set of "loose rules that are left open to interpretation" and is difficult to implement.

John Apter, the national chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales, said: "What we need from the prime minister and the government now is clear and unambiguous messaging and guidance, explaining what exactly is expected of the public, so that my colleagues can do their level best to police it.

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"Police officers will continue to do their best, but their work must be based on crystal clear guidance, not loose rules that are left open to interpretation - because that will be grossly unfair on officers whose job is already challenging."

Mr Apter said Johnson's statement came after a week of "mixed messages and the release of some information which, fuelled by media speculation, meant many people acted as though the lockdown had already ended".

He said: "If the message of what is expected of the public is not clear, then it will make the job of policing this legislation almost impossible."

The Metropolitan Police Federation (MPF), which represents police officers in London, criticised the government's pandemic response as "wishy-washy”, amid concerns that the public had begun ignoring lockdown restrictions.